Adjustable reclining chair



Sept. 7, 1948. c. COLLINS ADJUSTABLE REGLINING CHA IR 3 Sheets-Sheet; 1

Filed Nov. 25, 1944 nmmmmwwwv: I

C'aZkoun C'oZZzns P 7, 1948. c. COLLINS I ADJUSTABLE RECLINING' CHAIR 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 'Nov. 25, 1944 Ema/rm Caz/Evan 6' OZ Z 215.

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Patented Sept. 7, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE anasso ADJUSTABLEREOLINING CHAIR Calhoun Collins, Bakersfield, Calif., assigno'r ofone-half to Theodore M. ltyerson, Bakersfield,

Calif.

Application November 25, 1944, Serial No. 565,106

12 Claims. 1

This invention aims to provide a new and improved chair which willpermit the occupant to sit quietly, rock, recline, or lie down, asdesired, the chair being thus not only well adapted for affordingmaximum comfort and relaxation for vention is to provide means forautomatically removing some of the slack from said web as the chair istilted to reclining and lying-down positions, providing for greatercomfort. In this connection, a still further aim is to provide forthrowing the slack-diminishing means out 'of operation if it be desiredtomerely rock to and fro.

Yet another aim is to include in the aforesaid slack-diminishing means,a novel adjusting means for compensating for stretching of the we Thetiltable chair is preferably biased forwardly to sitting position, andstill another object is to provide a novel ratchet mechanism which maybe thrown into and out of operation at will, for either holding thechair against forward return when tilted rearwardly to one position oranother, or for permitting return, as well as unhampered rocking, whendesired.

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly broken away and in section showingthe chair in sitting po sition.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the chair tiltedrearwardly to a reclining or lyingdown position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail vertical section showing the means forreleasably connecting one of the thrust members with one of the verticalside frames of the supporting frame.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view showing the dog and associated elements.

The structure disclosed in the drawings will be rather specificallydescribed, with the understanding, however, that within the scope of iiithe invention as claimed, variations may be made.

A supporting frame I0 is provided comprising substantially A-shapedvertical tubular side frames H rigidly connected at their lower ortionsby transverse frame members such as that shown at I2 in Fig. 3. Theupper ends ofth'e side frames H are provided with alined b'ear ings l3.

A chair frame I4 is tiltably mounted onthe sup-porting frame Ill, saidchair frame including side members IS, the intermediate portions ofwhich extend over the side frames ll, said intermediate portions of theside members l 5 being each provided with two downwardly projectingplates [6 which straddle said side frames H. Sleeves I! are shownextending through the bearings l3 and abutting the plates l6, and boltsor rivets I8 are illustrated extending through said plates and sleevesand securing them together, the chair frame I 4 being thus tiltablymounted upon the supporting frame; III.

The front ends of the side members l5 are connected by a suitabletransverse bar l9 ap propriately attached thereto and said bar I! servesto anchor the front end of a flexible web 20, said'web being preferablysuitably upholstered by means of cushions 2|; The web 20 forms both theseat and the back of the chair and the seat portion gradually mergesinto the back portion as shown. The upper end of this back portion issuitably connected to a second transverse bar 22 which extends betweenthe upper ends of the back portions 23 of the side members l5. As seenin Fig. 6, the ends of the bar 22' are reduced and extend throughlongitudinal slots 24 in the aforesaid back portions 23 'ofthe sidemembers 15, said bar ends being provided with nuts 25 within saidportions 23. Threaded through these nuts, are two adjusting screws 26having knobs 21 which normally abut the upper ends of the side membersl5. The lower ends of the screws 26 are rotatably con-' nected at 28with the upper ends of rods 29 which are received throughout the greaterportions of their lengths in the back portions 23 of the side membersHi. The lower end portions of these rods 29, however, project beyond theaforesaid portions 23 and are preferably flattened, said lower ends ofthe rods 29 being connected as hereinafter described with the rear legsof the side frames ll of the supporting frame In, at points spaceddownwardly and rearwardly from the pivots l8 of the chair frame M. Thus,the

rods 29 and screws 26 cooperate in forming frames.

thrust members which will push the transverse web anchoring bar 22upwardly and rearwardly, as the chair frame I4 is tilted toward areclining or lying-down position (see Fig. 2). Also, as the chair isreturned to sitting-down position, these thrust members will return thebar 22. When bar 22 is pushed rearwardly as in Fig. 2, it diminishes theslack in the web 20 for more comfortable support of the occupant inreclining or lyingdown position, but this slack is restored when thechair is again forwardly tilted, for maximum comfort when the occupantis merely sitting down or rocking.

In the present disclosure, the projecting lower ends of the rods 29 passthrough slots 30 in the rear legs of the side frames II and have notches3| formed in their rear edges. Yokes 32 straddle said rear legs of theframes I and are pivotally and slidably connected therewith as shown at33, the upper ends of said yokes being each provided with a transversepin 34, the two pins being normally seated in the notches 3| of the tworods 29. Each pin 34 preferably carries two rollers .35 contacting withthe rear edge of the rear leg of the side frame I I. Tension springs 36are connected at their upper ends with the yokes 32 and at their lowerends with levers 37, which levers normally occupy the position shown inFigs. 1 and 2 and thus hold the pins 34 in the notches 3| of the rods29. When the levers 31 are swung forwardly, however, to relieve thesprings 36 of tension, and the chair frame is tilted a trifle, the'yokes32 may swing by gravity to move the pins 34 out of said notches 3|. Thethrust members 29, 26 are thus disconnected from the side frames I! ofthe supporting frame Hi and the chair I4 may thus be rocked to and frowithout causing the upper transverse bar 22 to affect the amount ofslack in the web 20. When the pins 34 are to be again engaged with thenotches 3|, the levers 3'! are first swung to thepast-dead-centerposition shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thus causing tensioningof the springs 36 to so swing the yokes 32 that said pins 34 willcontact with the rear edges of the rods 29, say at points above or belowsaid notches 3|. Then by tilting the chair I 4 in one direction oranother until the pins are opposite the notches, said pins will besnapped into the notches and the thrust members will again be connectedwith the side These thrust members and side frames remain connected witheach other unless the chair occupant wishes to rock.

By proper structural characteristics, the entire chair I4 is preferablybiased forwardly to a normal sitting position and must, therefore, beheld against forward return when it is tilted rearwardly to reclining orlying down positions. To attain the forward biasing of the chair to thenormal sitting position, the chair seat could well be sufiiciently heavyin advance of the bearings l3, but I have shown a spring S forperforming the biasing function. To hold the chair against undesiredforward return when tilted rearwardly, I provide two dogs 38 cooperablewith ratchetlike segments 39, said segments being disposed between thefront and rear legs of the side frames II and welded or otherwisesecured to said legs. Except when rocking, the dogs 38 are left inoperative position and it will be seen that as the chair is tiltedrearwardly, said dogs will click over the teeth of the segments 39 andwill thus hold the chair against forward return until said dogs arereleased. The releasing means for the dogs may be more readily explainedafter describing the mounting of said dogs.

Each dog 38 (see more particularly Fig. 7) is pivotally supported on anon-rotatable pin 40 suitably secured to the side plates I6. Pivotallyhung from this pin is an arm 4|, the upper end of which is connectedwith the dog 38 by a spring arm 42, and another spring arm 43 may wellbe provided to swing said arm 4|forwardly and therefore bias said dog 38toward the segment 39. The spring arm 42 is secured at its front end tothe arm 4| and is suitably connected at its rear end with the dog 38,and the spring arm 43 is secured at its upper end to the fixed pin 40and is suitably connected at its lower end with the arm 4|. Extendingforwardly from the lower end of each arm 4|, is a rod 44, and the frontends of the two rods are connected to two operating levers 45 fulcrumedbetween the front edges of the plates l6. When the levers 44 are pulledupwardly to past-dead-center positions, they swing the arms 4| totension the springs 42 and cause these springs to exert an upward forceon the dogs 38 so that as soon as the frictional contact of the dogswith teeth of the segments 23 is relieved, by slight tilting of thechair frame M from its dog-held position, said dogs will be swungupwardly to idle positions, so that they will not interfere with to andfro rocking of the chair, nor with forward return of said chair after ithas been held in one rearwardly swung position or another. The levers 45may of course be operated by the occupant of the chair but it ispreferable to also provide controls for the dogs 38, operable from thechair back by means of a nurse or other attendant. To accomplish this, alink 46 extends rearwardly from each arm 4| and is connected with a pullrod 41. The two pull rods 41 extend through the back portions 23 of theside members I5 and have finger portions 48 extending outwardly throughslots 49.

Where the rods 44 and 46 cross the legs of the side frames I, said legspreferably have flat portions 50 and 5| respectively, and where theyokes 32 cross the rear legs, the latter are preferably somewhatflattened as shown at 52. This permits the plates IE to be more closelyspaced than would otherwise be possible.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,it will be seen that a novel and advantageous chair has been provided,in which the occupant may merely sit quietly, in which he may rock toand fro if desired, and in which he may comfortably recline or lie down.As the chair is tilted toward reclining or lying-down positions, thethrust members 29, 26 thrust rearwardly on the bar 22 and thus removesurplus slack from the web 20 which will then support the occupant morecomfortably. Also, the screws 26 of the thrust members may be manuallyrotated to adjust the bar 22, either for the purpose of compensatin forstretching of the web 2!], or to merely place more or less slack in saidweb, as desired.

While excellent results may be obtained from the general constructionshown and described, attention is again invited to the possibility ofmaking variations within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a chair, a supporting. frame; a chair frame including longitudinalside members and front and rear end bars, one of said end bars beingfixedly mounted on said side members, the other of said end bars beingmovably mounted on QMSfBGO said side"members-for movement to'ward and"from said one-pf said end bars; pivots connecting said chair frame tosaid suppoitm frame for "rearward tilting from a normal sitting positionto a lying position; an occupant-supporting web anchored'at its endsto'said end-bar's and hav'i'ng slack between-them; andend-'bar-shiftin'g-means active on said movable end bar and reactive onsaid supporting frame, said end bar shifting means being constructedandarra'nged to move said movable end bar away from said fixed end baras said chair frame is rearwardly tilted toward said lying position,whereby the slack in said web will'be decreased as said chair frame isso tilted.

2. In a chair, a supporting frame; "a "chair frame includinglongitudinal side members and "front and rear end bars, one of said endbars being fixedly mounted on said side membersgthe other of said endbars being movably mounted on said side members for movement toward andfrom said'one of said end bars; pivots connecting said chair frame tosaid supporting frame for rearward tilting from a normal sittingposition to a lying position; an occupant-supporting web anchored at itsends to said end bars and having slack between them; longitudinalvertically swingable thrust members connected with the ends of saidmovable end bar and extending therefrom to said supportingframasaidsupporting frame having means for pivotally supporting the lower ends ofsaid thrust members at J'points spaced from said chair iraine pivots,

the action of said supportin means being such that said thrust memberswill move said movable end bar a gradually increasing distance from saidchair frame pivots as said chair frame is tilted rearwardly toward saidlying position, whereby the slack in said web will be decreased as saidchair frame is rearwardly tilted toward said lying position.

3. A structure as specified in claim 2; together with means foradjusting said movable end bar longitudinally of said thrust members tocompensate for stretching of said web.

4. A structure as specified in claim 2; said movable end bar having nutsat its ends; said thrust members including manually rotatable screwsthreaded through said nuts for adjusting said movable end barlongitudinally of said thrust members to compensate for stretching ofsaid web.

5. A structure as specified in claim 2; said side members having tubularportions formed with slots through which the ends of said movable endbar extend into said tubular portions, said thrust members having themajor portions of their lengths received in said tubular portions ofsaid side members,

6. A structure as specified in claim 2; said side members having tubularportions formed with slots through which the ends of said movable endbar extend into said tubular portions, said ends of said movable end barhaving nuts within said tubular portions of said side members; saidthrust members having the major portions of their lengths received insaid tubular portions of said side members and including manuallyrotatable screws threaded through said nuts to adjust said movablymounted end bar longitudinally of said thrust members to compensate forstretching of said web.

7. A structure as specified in claim 2; said means for pivotallysupporting said lower ends of said thrust members including meanswhereby the "iowe'r nds of said "thrust "members new be freed from "saidsupporting "frameto permit unhamp'ered rocking of said"'ch'air frame.

8, Astructu're as s'pecifiedin cIai'm-Zfsaids'upporting frame includingside fra'mes having inclined 'legs, said means for'pivotally supportingsaid lower ends of said thrust 'inembers comprising levers pivotallyan'd slidably connected with said legs having pins normally receivedi'nnotch'es in said thrust members, said pins haw ing thrust r'ollersabutting said legs, and mevabie 'means'forholding said levers in normalposition and forfl'permitting movement of said levers to free said pinsfrom said notches when imha'mpered rocking o'f said-chair frame isdesired.

'9, In a chair, a supporting frame having two side frames, a chair framebetween said side "frames-alined pivots connecting said chair framewithsaid s'ide frames for movement from a sitting position to recliningpositions, means normany biasing said clia'irfram'e forwardly to saids'i'tting' p'osition, a segment secured to one of said side frames inconcentric relation with one "of said pivots, said segment havingratchet teeth, a 'dog pivotally mounted on said chair frame andsuccessively "cooperabl'e with said ratchet wants 'hold said chair frameagainst forward return when tilted "rearwardly to reclinin positions, a

means extending from said manually operable member to! saidd'og andincluding a Spfing fwhi ch is tensi'or'fed by movement of said manuallyoperable member to dog-releasing position, said spring being soconnected with said dog as to exert a releasing force on said dog whensaid spring is tensioned, whereby said force will be effective torelease said dog from any contacting tooth of said segment whenthefriction between said dog and tooth is relieved.

10. In a chair, a frame having side members provided with tubularportions at the back of the chair, the inner sides of said tubularportions having longitudinal slots at their upper ends, a web-anchoringbar having its ends extending through said slots and provided with nutswithin said tubular portions, and said web-anchoring bar being movableupwardly to tighten said web, and screws within said tubular portionsand threaded through said nuts for upwardly moving said webanchoring barto tighten said web, said screws having operating knobs abutting theupper extremities of said tubular portions.

11. In a chair, a supporting frame having two side frames, a chairbetween said side frames, alined pivots connecting said chair with saidside frames for movement from a sitting position to reclining positions,means normally biasing said chair frame forwardly to said sittingposition, a segment secured to one of said side frames in concentricrelation with one of said pivots and. disposed below the latter, saidsegment having forwardly facing ratchet teeth on its upper edge, a dogabove said segment and having a rear end successively cooperable withsaid ratchet teeth to hold said chair frame against forward return whentilted rearwardly to reclining positions, a transverse pin upon whichthe front end of said dog is pivotally mounted, said pin beingnonrotatably secured to said chair frame, an arm pivotally suspendedfrom said pin for forward and rearward movement, one substantiallyhorizontal spring arm secured at its front end to the upper end of saidpivotally suspended arm with said pivotally suspended arm and mounted onsaid chair frame for swinging said arm rearwardly to so tension said onespring arm as to cause it to exert an upward force on said dog, wherebysaid force will be effective to release said .dog when the frictionbetween said dog and the contacting tooth is relieved,

12. In a chair, a rigid supporting frame inc1udin vertical side frames;a chair frame between said side frames and including longitudinal sidemembers having upwardly directed rear ends, and front and rear end bars,said front end bar being fixedly mounted on said side members, said rearend bar being movably mounted on said upwardly directed rear ends ofsaid side members for movement toward and from said front end bar;alined pivots mounting said chair frame upon said side frames forrearward tilting from a normal sitting position to a lying position; an00- cupant-supporting Web anchored at its ends to said end bars andhaving slack between them, two thrust rods inclined rearwardly from saidside frames respectively, means connecting the rear ends of said thrustrods with said movable rear end bar of said chair frame, and meanswhereby the lower ends of said thrust rods are pivotally supported uponsaid side frames at points spaced downwardly and rearwardly from theaforesaid pivots, whereby during rearward tilting of said chair frame tosaid lying p0siti0n,,said chair frame and said thrust rods will swing ondifferent arcs and consequently said rear end bar will be rearwardlymoved with respect to said front end bar, thereby decreasing the slackin said web.

CALHOUN COLLINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 135,465 Chichester Feb. 4, 1873153,478 Cutter July 28, 1874 169,065 Tostevin Oct. 19, 1875 333,052Brooks Dec. 22, 1885 445,012 Dicks Jan. 20, 1891 581,888 Stoermer May 4,1897 617,638 Carter Jan. 10, 1899 637,706 Brown Nov. 21, 1899 703,227Blackard June 24, 1902 1,438,667 Schdps Dec. 12, 1922 1,440,248Shoemaker Dec. 26,1922

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 233,608 Germany Apr. 13, 1911319,644 France July 26, 1902 7 377,844 Germany June 27, 1923 388,186Great Britain Feb. 23, 1933 788,065 France July 22, 1935

